Combined door-holding and door-checking device



Nov. 15, 1938. R. l. scHoNrrzER COMBINED DOOR HOLDING AND DOOR CHEGKINGDEVICE Filed May 28, 1934 Patented Nov. 15, 1938 f f COMBINDDOOR-HOLDING AND DOOR- CHECKING DEVICE l Rudolph I. Schonitzer,Cleveland, Ohio Application May 28, 1934, Serial No. 727,891

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined doorholding and door-checkingdevice, the device being especially adapted for use with the hingeddoors of automobiles and the like.

Many of the doors of present day automobiles are hingedly mounted oninclined body posts o1' pillars, with the result that said doors have anatural tendency to ,swing to closed position. The undesired closingmovement of automobile doors as the result of such tendency has resultedin serious personal injury, and the provision of means for releasablyholding such doors in open position whenever they are moved thereto isquite desirable if not absolutely necessary. l

The general object of the present invention, therefore, is the provisionof a simple and improved device for releasably holding a hinged Adoor inopen position, such holding of said door being easily and convenientlyeffected by the or dinary manual operation of moving the door to suchposition and the release of said door being easily and convenientlyeffected by ,the ordinary manual operation of moving the door from suchposition. y

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a simpleand improved device which not only is capable of releasably holding ahinged door in open position whenever it is moved thereto but also, iscapable of checking the opening movement thereof, thereby makingunnecessary the use of a separate door check therefor.

A further object of the present invention is the` provision of a simpleand improved doorholding and door-checking device which is adapted forsimple securement to intermediate portions of the hinge side of a doorand the hinge side of a' body post or pillar on which such door ishingedly mounted, the parts of said device being almost entirelyenclosed within and hence concealed by said door and said post orpillar, even when the door is in open position.

lFurther objects of the present invention are to provide for structuralsimplicity, compactness, manufacturing economy, and certaintyofoperation under vall predetermined. conditions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view Vwhich will appear as thedescription of the presentl invention proceeds,` said invention residesin lthe combination and arrangement of parts and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatchanges in the present invention as herein disclosed can be madewithin-the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

The invention will be readily understood from the following detaileddescription of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion ofan automobile body'constructed in accordance with present daystream-line designs, each of the generally hollow four doors of saidbody (two of which are shown) having associated therewith a combineddoor-holding and door-checking device embodying the present invention;Fig. 2 is a horizontal, longitudinal sectional view of a portion of thehinge `side of the left front door of said body and a portion of thehinge side of the inclined and generally hollow post or pillar thereofon which 16 said door is hingedly mounted, the door being in closedposition and the holding and checking device therefor being ininoperative position, the view being on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the door re- 20 leasably held inopen position by saiddevice; Fig. 4 is a detail vertical, longitudinalsectional View of the holding and checking parts of said device, theview being on the line 4 4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail vertical, crosssectional view of 25 parts of said device, the view being on the line5'5, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail vertical, longitudinal sectional view ofparts of said device, the view being on the line 6 6, Fig.'5; and Fig. 7is a detail vertical, cross sectional view of the checking member of thepresent device and the arm or link thereof on which it is mounted, theview being on the line 1-1, Fig. 3.

In the portion of the automobile body shown in Fig. 1, I represents thegenerally hollow left front door and 2 the generally hollow left reardoor, the front door having its front or hinge side mounted by the usualhinges 3 on the hinge side of the rearwardly inclined and generallyhollow front post or pillar 4 of said body and the rear door having itsrear or hinge side mounted by the usual hinges 5 on'the hinge side ofthe slightly forwardly inclined and generally hollow rear post or pillar6 of such body. Because o1.' the inclination of said body posts orpillars, the tendency of both doors is to swing to closed position, thefront door swinging rearwardly to such position and the reardoorswinging forwardly to such position. Inasmuch as the doors of thelarger automobiles are relatively heavy, serious personal injury easily50 may result, and in fact has resulted, from undesired closing movementof said doors as the result of such tendency.

To effectively prevent undesired closing movement of hinged doors, suchas automobile doors, 5;

2 the device of the present application was provided, the chief functionof which device is to releasably and automatically hold a hinged doorinopen position whenever it is moved thereto.

To avoid the necessity of using a separate device and door-checkingy"device includes a relatively ilat and longitudinally bent metal arm orlink Ill having its rear end pivotally or otherwise suit-l ablyconnected to an intermediate portion of the hinged side of the hinges 3thereof. The connection of said arm or link to said dooris preferably ofthe concealed type, the rear end oi?l said arm or link being pivotallyconnected to a bifurcated lug I2 arranged within said generally hollowdoor and welded or otherwise suitably secured to the front edge wall I3thereof, said wall being provided with a suitable slot I4 through whichsaid arm or link extends.

The front or free end portion of said arm or link lies within thegenerally hollow body post or pillar 4, the rear edge wall I8 of whichis provided w'lth a suitable slot I9 through which said' arm or linkextends. lAs clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the generally horizontaldimension of the slot or opening I9 of the edge Wall I8 oi the body postor pillar 4 is substantially less than the corresponding dimension ofsuch edge wall, so that said body post or pillar, which is oi' generallyhollow form, is not appreciably weakened by the provision of such slotor opening. The use oi' a slot or opening having its generallyhorizontal dimension so restricted or limited is possible because of thelongitudinal bending oi' the arm or link I0, as will be readilyunderstood from an examination of the accompanying drawing. Locatedwithin said post or pillar and welded or otherwise rigidly securedon thefree end of said arm or link is asuitable retainable means of prof`jecting character, here shown as a pair oi oppo-` sitely extending wings20 which constitute the end portions of a rigid metal bar having'itsmiddle portion 2l -bent into substantially U'form to receive and berigidly secured to the free-end of said arm or link.

Longitudinally arranged within the generally hollow body post or pillar4 and welded or-otherwise suitably secured to the rear edge wall I8thereof, over therein, is a suitable retaining means for releasabl'eholding arm or link I0, the retaining means here shown being of unitform and comprising a generally rectangular metallic base plate 25,apair of me-` tallic retaining leaf springs l 28 and a generallylrectangular metallic cover wise suitably secured thereto. disposedoffset portion 38 of said A longitudinally cover plate providestherebeneath a correspondingly disposedw door l such as between the twoend' portions 48, a

Ataining .springs `and the -side wall the arm or link-receiving Vslot'I8 engagement with the wings v2li oi' the f plate 21, the latter`overlying said base plate and having its longi" tudinal side edgeportions welded at 28 or other-l effectively 11maea`bytnoseporuons ofthe in g which4 aredisposedin the` plane of the the two'retainingsprings 28, such securement being simply and economically maintained bylaterally extending spring-engaging end flanges 38 with which the baseplate 25 is integrally provided. The two retaining springs '28 are thussecurely maintained in spaced relation. one above he other, on oppositesides of the plane of the path of pivotal movement of the arm or linkI0, as shown.

As before mentioned, the-aforesaid retaining unit is longitudinallypositioned over the arm or link-receiving slot I9 of the body post orpillar edge wall I8, and to, permit said arm or link to extend throughsaid retaining unit to eiect releasable holding engagement of its wings20 with the springs 28 of said retaining unit, the base plate 25 and'the cover plate 21 of said unit are each provided with a suitable slotto receive said larm or link, the two slots of said base and cover'plates and the slot I 9l of said post or pillar edge wall' I8 being inalignment or registration, as shown.

As best shown in Fig. 4,' the two retaining springs 28 have a pair oi'outwardly flaring free pair of restricted neck portions 4I adjacentthereto and a pair of relatively abrupt retaining shoulder portions 42adjacent said neck portions.' The retainable wings 20 of the arm or linkI0 have a pair oi' end shoulder portions 44 corresponding to 'andadapted for cooperation with the retaining shoulder portions 42 of theretaining springsv ZG- and said retainable wingsalso have a pair of sidewallportions`45 corresponding to and adapted for cooperation with thefree end portions 40 of saidretaining springs. l

When thedoor I isin closed position, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the majorportion oi the arm or link i0 of the present improved device lies Withinthe generally hollow Abody post or pillar 4, the intermediate portion ofsaid arm or link lying between the two retaining springs 26, as shown.Upon opening movement of said door, the major por- .tion oi.' said armvor link is withdrawn from said body post or pillar, said arm or linkmoving clockwise (Figs. 2 and 3) with said door and the retainable wings28 of said arm or link being yieldingly pulled between said retainingsprings into releasable holding engagement therewith, as shown in Figs.3 and 4. Due to the more or less gradual curvature voi.' theA free endportions 40 oi' said reportions 45 oi' said arm or link wings', littleresistance is oered to the inward passage of said wings between andbeyond said spring free end portions, but due to vthe abruptness of theshoulder portions 42 of said springs and the end shoulder portions 44 ofsaid wings, suillcient resistance to outward movement of said wings isaflorded to vefl'ectively -holdsaid door in yfully open position,subjectto its release, of course, vwhenever desired, as the resistanceto the release of said` wings is not suilcient to prevent the ordinarymanual closing of the door.

In orderto limit lateral or pivotal movement of the arm or linkIII, andthus insure cooperative engagement,- for'door-holding purposes, voi thearmor link-wings 2 8 and the retaining springs 28,

any suitable means cooper-able with said arm or linkjybetween its wings20"and its pivot may be utilized..-` As here shown.19 suitable rubberbushing'35 issecured in theslots of the base and cover ,plates 25 andV2I `of the retaining unit, and vthrough such bushing the arm or. linkI0 extends. Asa result, the pivotal movement-lof said arm or link isbushpath , of pivotal movement of'saidarm or link.` Inasbut isineffective to prevent the ordinary manual closing thereof wh'endesired.

In order to enable the present improved device to. also function as adoor check, to check outward or opening movement of the door with whichit is associated, the arm orlink I of the device is here providedadjacent its retainable wings 20 with suitable resilient means for suchdoor check-.-

in'g purposes. Although said checking meansv may be inthe form of one ormore springs or the like, it is here shown as a solid rubber member 50provided with a suitable slot l throughwhich said arm or link extends,said slot being of lsuch size that said member is frictionallymaintained adjacent the wings 20 of said arm or link, as

shown. l

Upon opening movement of the door I, said checking member 50 movesinwardly with the free end portion of the arm or'link llir between thetwo retaining springs 26 and is'yieldingly compressed between the wings20 of said arm or link andthe rubber bushing 35 of the base and coverplates 25 and 21. As a result, the final portion of the door openingmovement is eilectively i checked, in the same manner as thataccomplished by the ordinary door. checks now `used with automobiledoors.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the depth of the checking member 50 is suchwith the ,inward movement of the wings 20 between and beyond the freeend portions 40 of the retaining springs 26,

end portion/and thus absorb any noise which might otherwise resulttherefrom. The checking member 50 here shown is also provided, oppositethe iin 54, with a second fin 55 for yieldable engagement with the sidewall 51 of the body post or pillar 4 upon inward lateral o r pivotalmovement of the free end portion of the arm or link l0 when the door Iis in closed position. .Because of its reduced size, however, the fin 55will engage the body post orpillar side wall 51 only if the bushing 35for the arm or link I0 becomes excessively worn as the result of pivotalmovement of said arm or link, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present improved deviceeffectively accomplishes the dual function of releasabiy holding ahinged door in .open position whenever it is moved thereto and ofchecking the outward or opening movement thereof; that the parts of thedevice are ofsimple and durable form and are readily and convenientlyconnected to intermediate portions ofthe hinge; sides of a door and abody post or pillar. The retaining means of the `will be readilyunderstood.

that it does not interfere I arm or linkthe door l being held in openposition with a slight loose- `devies is secured to the body post orpinar as a unitfthe securement thereof being effected. by

the use of screws,- rivets or a-welding operation.

If ,desired and as here shown,the base plate 25 of said retaining meansmay be provided with laterally bent side flanges 60, the purpose ofwhich is to give said plate increased strength and rigidity. To insurepermanency of location 0f the base portions 32 of the two retainingspringsbetween the base and cover plates 25 and21, the offset portion $0of said cover plate, at the sides ofthe arm or link-receiving slottherein, may be provided with integral tongues 82 engaging in' notches63 in the inner ends of .said spring base portions, all as clearly shownin Fig. 5.

. It is to be noted lthat the present improved device may be operativelyassociated with a hinged door and the post, pillar or frame on whichsaid door is mounted with the retaining means of the devicearrangedeither in the door, as shown with the front door I of theautomobile body of Fig. 1, or in the post, pillar or frame, as shownwith the i rear door 2 of said body, alias Although the drawingof thepresentapplication illustrates and the specification describes vthe useof the present improved device with automobile doors mountedon-incli`ned axes, it isV to be understood that said device is equallyapplicable for use with doors mounted. on vertical or noninclined axes,inasmuch as saiddoors also are subjected to undesired closing tendenciesby winds, the parking of the automobiles ofwhich they are a part oninclined surfaces, etc.

`It is also to be understood that the invention here involved may beused for door-holding purposes only, either with orwithout separatedoorchecking means, all within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

'1. In a devicelfor releasabiy holding a hinged door in open position, aretaining unit comprising an attaching base plate, a'pair of retainingspring portions having laterally extending spaced base parts, and acover plate overlying the base parts of said spring portions and securedto said base plate, said base and cover plates being provided betweenthe base parts of said spring portions with strap or link-receivingopenings.

2. In a device for releasabiy holding a hinged door in open position, aretaining unit comprising an attaching base plate, a cover plate securedthereto and having portions thereof spaced therefrom to provide a pairof elongated cavitiestherebetween, a pair of retaining members eachinto, and end flanges carried by said base plate and engaging saidretaining members for 'prevtenting theirendwise removal from such caviies.

3. In a device for releasabiy holding a hinged door in open position, aretaining unit comprising an attaching base plate, a cover plate securedthereto and having portions thereof spaced therefrom to provide a pairof elongated cavities therebetween, a pair of retaining members eachhaving a laterally extending base part lying in one 'of said cavities,means for closing the inner ends oi said cavities to preventconvergingmovement of said retaining members, and end flanges carried bysaid base plate and engaging said retaining members for preventing ofsaid members and to be pivotally secured to the hinge side of one oivsaid members, means adapted to be secured to and enclosed within theother f said members and having a retaining portion, a retainableportion 14carried by said arm within said last mentioned member forreleasable retention by the retaining portion of said means when saiddoor member-reaches a predetermined' open position,` whereby said doormember may be releasably held in such -open position, and cooperatingchecking POrtions, one associated with said arm and the other associatedwith said means and adapted to abut each other asthe door memberapproaches open position for checking its movement.

5. A device for releasably holdingin open position a door member havinga side thereof hinged on a side of a supporting member and for checkingthe opening movement of said door member, said device comprising an armadapted to be pivotally secured to the hinged side of one of saidmembers, retaining means adapted to' be secured to and enclosed withinthe other of said members, a retainable head carried by said arm withinsaid `last mentioned member for releasable retention'by said retainingmeans when said door member reaches a predetermined open position,whereby said door member may be releasably held in such open position,and a `yieldable checking part on said arm between said head and a partoi' said retaining means and adapted to abut such part as the doormember approaches open position for yieldablyv checking its move-y ment.

-.6. In a device of the class described. in combination, a door checkcomprising a check arm,

a resilient checking member mounted upon the free end portion of saidcheck arm, retainable means xed to the check arm `to hold the checkingmember from displacement andhaving a portion projecting outwardly beyondsaid checking member, and a resilient stop adapted to be mounted forcooperation with the check arm and comprising spaced spring fingersbetween which the checking member is adapted to be received, saidlingers being provided with recesses adapted to receive theprojecting'portion of the retainable means, whereby to resilientlyengage the same for holding the check arm and the checking member in apredetermined relative movement of these parts.

7.l A device for releasably holding `in an: open position a door memberhinged on a supporting member, said device comprising a longitudinallybent arm adapted to tainable means within said last mentioned member,retaining means adapted vto be secured `to and enclosed by said lastmentioned member for cooperative engagement with the retainable means ofsaid arm in releasably holding said door memposition 'after alamo? meansof said arm in releasably holdingsaid door member in an open position,said retaining means having-retaining parts arranged in opposed re,-lation on opposite sides of the plane of the path` of pivotal movementof said arm.

9. A device for releasably holding in an open position a door memberhinged on a supporting member, said device comprising a longitudinallybent arm adapted to be pivotally secured to one of said members and toextend into the other of said members, said arm being provided withretainable means within said last mentioned member, retaining meansadapted to be secured to and enclosed by said last mentioned member forcooperative engagement with the retainable means of said arm inreleasably holding the door member in an open position, said retainingmeans having retaining parts arranged in opposed relation on oppositesides of the plane of the path of pivotal movement of said arm, andmeans in the plane of the path of pivotal movement of said arm andcooperable its pivot and the retainable means of such arm for solimitingthe pivotal movement of said arm as to insure cooperative engagement ofthe retainable means of Asaid arm and said retaining means when saiddoor member approaches such open position.

10. A device for releasably holding in an open position a'generallyhollow automobile door member hinged on a generally hollow body pillarmein ber or the like, said device comprising a longitudinally bent armadapted to be pivotally secured to one of said members and to extendinto the other of said members through an edge wall Aopening with whichsaid last'mentioned memwith the retainable means of said arm forreleasber in an open position, and means cooperable s with said armbetween its pivot and theretainable means of such armi'or so limitingfthe pivotal movement of said jarm as to insure cooperative ensagementof the retainable means of said arm and ably holding the door member inan open position,

` said retaining means having engagement with the be pivotally securedtoone i to extend into the other of said members, said arm beingvprovided with reried by said arm within-said lastmentioned member andhaving a retainable portion, retaining means adapted to be secured toand enclosed by said last mentioned member for cooperative envcarriedmeans also having a checking `portion for checking contact with aportion associated t with the member into which said arm extends' forchecking the opening movement of said door member. Y

12. A device for checking the opening movement of a door member hingedon a supporting member and lfor releasably holding said door member inan'open position, said device comprising a longitudinally bent armadapted to be pivotally secured to one'ofV said members and to extendinto the other of said members, means carried by said arm within saidlast mentioned member and having a retainable portion, retaining meansadapted to be secured to and enclosed byy said lastmentioned member forcooperative engagement with the retainable portion of said arm carriedmeans in releasably holding said door member in an open position, meanscooperable with said arm between its pivot and the means carried by saidarm for-so limiting .the pivotal movement of Asaid varm as to insurecooperativev engagement ot the retainable portion of said arm carriedmeans and said retaining means the retainable portion oi said'.

when said door member approaches such open position, and said armcarried means also having a checking portion-for checking contact with aportion associated with the member into which said arm extends forchecking the opening movement of said door member.

13. A device for checking the opening move- 'ment of a door memberhinged on a supporting member and for releasably' holding said doormember in an open position, said device comprising a longitudinally bentarm adapted to be pivotally secured to one of said members and to extendinto theI other of said members, said arm being provided within saidlast mentioned member with'retainable means and with a separate checkingmember, retaining means adapted to be` secured to and enclosed by saidlast mentioned member .for cooperative engagement with the retainablemeans of said arm in releasably holding said door member in an openposition, and the checking member of said arm having checking contactwhen the door member reaches a predetermined open position with aportion associated withthe member into which said arm extends forchecking further opening movement of said door member. f

RUDOLPH I. SCHONITZER.

